“Why am I so sleepy?” I wondered aloud to no one in particular. I feel like the toddlers look when they’re needing a nap but not wanting one. When it’s half past five and it’s pitch black outside and the overcast and cold have sapped my energy, no amount of caffeinating can kick my sluggishness. The caffeine always seems to catch up to me once I’ve turned in for the night. A brisk walk outside does the most good.
I’m spent. I feel it more some days than others. I think of my granddaddy saying, “I could fall asleep on a dime and give you nine cents change.” As a kid, I always laughed because of the way he said it. I laughed because everyone else was laughing but I didn’t really get it. Experience is a good teacher.
Think for a moment. When have you truly worked hard and been rewarded by the deep satisfaction of a job well done? Maybe you’ve disciplined yourself to run a marathon or to memorize a musical score. Perhaps you’ve tackled a DIY project or chaired a committee of volunteers to pull off a successful event. What would you consider a worthy cause?
I’ve attempted things for my children that I never would have done for myself. Serving them in tangible ways, for me, is very rewarding. I feel most satisfied when I’m looking for more ways to give but loving someone as Jesus did sometimes requires a different tack.
“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.”
John 15:12 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.15.12.NLT
Zebedee’s wife came to Jesus with her sons, James and John. She knelt respectfully before Jesus, asking for her boys to be assigned places of honor in His kingdom. These sons of a fisherman, also nicknamed by Jesus Sons of Thunder, wanted to call down fire from heaven to consume a Samaritan village when they did not welcome Jesus. (Mark 3:17, Luke 9:54) They stood before Jesus on this singular occasion confident in their ability to drink His bitter cup of suffering. They would indeed suffer, Jesus assured them, but places of honor are assigned by God alone.
“When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.
But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world Lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.
But among you it will be different.
Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:24-28 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.20.24-28.NLT
“Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father.
He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end.
(He showed them the full extent of His love.)”
John 13:1 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.13.1.NLT
“Love never gives up, love never lets down.
Love keeps on trying though smiles or frowns.
Love never says die even when it gets tough.
True love just never gives up.” ~ Bill & Gloria Gaither
“Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God.
So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin.
Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.”
John 13:3-5 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.13.3-5.NLT
Judas sat at that table. Jesus washed his feet. The Sons of Thunder were there. Peter who would deny three times knowing Him before the new day dawned and doubting Thomas saw the Savior of the world tie a towel around his waist and kneel before them, washing their feet.
“Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”
After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing?
You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am.
And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.
I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.
I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master.
Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message.
Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.”
John 13:7, 12-17 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.13.7-16.NLT
“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”
1 John 3:18 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1jn.3.18.NLT
Paul, during his missionary journeys, preached the good news of Jesus and helped establish churches far from Jerusalem. Between visits with fledgling congregations, he wrote letters to be passed among the churches, letters we still read today. He wrote of spending himself for the sake of the gospel. There is no more worthy cause in all the world. Often there is no more difficult calling.
“Now I am coming to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you.
I don’t want what you have—I want you.
After all, children don’t provide for their parents.
Rather, parents provide for their children.
I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.
Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen you.
For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response.
I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior.
Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence.
And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins.
You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.”
2 Corinthians 12:14-15, 19-21 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.12.14-21.NLT
“Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine.
Test yourselves.
Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.
For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth.”
2 Corinthians 13:5, 8 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.13.5-8.NLT
“But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God.
And I want all of you to share that joy.
Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.”
Philippians 2:17-18 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/php.2.18.NLT
“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”
Acts of the Apostles 20:24 NLT
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